Copeland (FFG 25) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCDR William P. Craft, USN Executive Officer Bill Craft was born in 1947 in Detroit, Michigan. He served his first tour in the Navy as an enlisted Photgraphic Intelligenceman from 1967 until 1971. He left the service to attend school at Michigan State University, where he graduated in 1973 from the Honors College with a BA in Geography. He returned to the Navy as an officer in 1974. After commissioning at OCS, Newport, Rhode Island, he attended the first west coast class of the Surface Warfare School. He served in USS GRIDLEY (CG-21 ) as Navigator Admin Officer from 1975 until 1978. Next he was posted to Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, II. as Military Training Assistant. Resuming sea duty m 1981. hecompleted his department head tours as Combat Systems Officer In USS GUSHING (DD-985) and later as Operations Officer in USS JOUETT (CG-29). In 1985 LCDR Craft returned to shore and served in the N6 staff at CINCUSNAVEUR in London, where he specialized in Tactical Satellite Communications to support Joint Contingency Operations, and Tactical Satellite Data Systems. In August 1987 he reported to USS COPELAND (FFG 25) where he is currently assigned as Executive Officer. LCDR Craft has received the Navy Achieve- ment Medal, three awards of the Navy Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal. Married in 1979, LCDR Craft, his wife Patricia, and their three children reside in San Diego. California.

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Commander G.M. Ziller Jr., USN Commanding Officer Commander Ziller was born in Austin, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He completed the Officer Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island and was commissioned in November 1967. Commander Ziller ' s initial sea assignments included tours in the nuclear powered guided missile cruiser USS TRUXTUN (DLGN 35) as Damage Control Assistant and precommis- sioning crew for USS CALIFORNIA (DLGN 36) as Damage Control Assistant. After attending the Department Head Course at Surface Warfare Officers School. Newport, Rhode Island. Commander Ziller reported to the USS ROBISON (DDG 12) as Operations Officer in August 1975. In 1977, he reported to the staff of the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia to serve on the Nuclear Propulsion Mobile Training Team. Following this staff duty. Commander Ziller was assigned to the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) from April 1979 to July 1981 serving as Main Propulsion Assistant. While aboard Nimitz, he participated in her historic deployment to the Indian Ocean in 1980. In August 1981 he reported as a member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board Atlantic on the staff of the Commander-in- Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. From November 1983 through February 1986, Commander Ziller served as the Executive Officer of the nuclear powered cruiser USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9). After attending several prospective Command- ing Officer courses. Commander Ziller relieved CDR D.R. Dunn as Commanding Officer, USS COPELAND on 11 October 1986 in Fremantle. Western Australia. Commander Ziller has been selected for CAPTAIN and will report to USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) as the Engineer Officer. Commander Ziller ' s awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (with gold star in lieu of second award). Navy Unit Commendation. Meritorious Unit Commenda- tion and several campaign and service medals. Commander Ziller is married to the former Susan Jane Smith of Hampton. Virginia. They have one son, Gregory Mathew and currently reside in San Diego, California.

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The Captain... 1 1; A ' W ?S : Finishing another daily run. Captain and XO taking time to have a Steel Beach burger or two. Copeland and Gary passing the time away. The Captain with a few remarks during the ship ' s Awards Ceremony.